"We're playing pretty good baseball in all phases," said Oilers head coach Brian Green after his squad scratched out a 2-1, come-from-behind win over the Mat-Su Miners in Alaska Baseball League play.

"These guys are coming out and working hard. I think we're a team that's getting better every day."

The win improves the Oilers to 7-12 overall and 4-6 in ABL competition. Peninsula has won four of its last five games.

Pitcher A.J. Shappi keyed the defensive effort, scattering seven hits, allowing one run, striking out two and walking one for the complete-game victory.

Jerrod Brown provided the clutch offense, driving in the tying run on a single through the hole between third and short in the seventh, then knocking in the winning run with a drive down the left-field line in the bottom of the ninth.

"How many big hits has Jerrod Brown had since he's been up here?" Green said. "We want him up in that situation."

Andy Schutzenhofer scored for the Oilers in the seventh inning, drawing a walk and advancing to second on a groundout by Mike Cox.

Schutzenhofer was awarded third on a balk call and scored when Brown slapped a single into left field with two outs.

Preston Griffin started the Oilers rally in the ninth inning when he was hit by a pitch. Griffin took second on a sacrifice bunt by Schutzenhofer.

The Miners issued a free pass to Cox to set up a force situation, then brought in reliever Jake McConiga to face Brown, but Brown drove the first pitch he saw down the line, easily scoring Griffin from second.

Brown finished with three of the Oilers' four hits to go with hit two runs batted in. Cox had the Oilers' other hit, reaching on an infield single to lead off the second.

"You can't ask for anything more than that," Shappi said of Brown's heroics. "It all comes from a team effort. When the team is meshing, it makes it easy on the pitchers."

Shappi said the key to his performance was getting ahead of batters with his fastball early in the count.

"We are competing for that No. 1 ace spot, and Shappi has been our most consistent guy," Green said. "He's been outstanding for us."

The Oilers put together an error-free game behind Shappi, turning three double plays to end the third, fourth and ninth innings.

The Miners had an excellent performance from starter David Seccombe, who was charged with two runs on three hits, struck out three and walked two in 8 1-3 innings of work.

The series finale is tonight at 7 p.m. at Coral Seymour Memorial Park.